Spirit Taming

Chapter 527: Found Out

'Quest: runaway guards- completed

Requirement: discover what happened to the guards within the dungeon.

Reward: three rare gocha tickets, one pure soul stone, one death crystal.'

'The designated representatives will have a boosted meditation and energy conversion rate of six hours for completing the quest. The reward to the host has been decreased. The pure soul gem and the death crystal will be removed.'

'Rewarded three rare gotcha tickets.'

Clark grumbled a little bit but was glad that the rest of the group had managed to gain themselves. While he still had no idea about the will of existence or whatever that was, he did know that his group had gained a lot. The boosted meditation was great for recovery and growing faster.

However, the boosted energy conversion must be a newer reward that existence could hand out. The system could easily give them this while Clark got better rewards when he completed things. The trade off was that he lost some materials he could have given Devi to get stronger.

'The boosted energy conversion is the energy shared between beast and tamer. When boosted, the rate at which the bodies can accept energy is improved causing an overall improvement in the bodies of both tamer and beast.'

The system sensed Clark's questioning and responded. This was just another bonus of a more intelligent system. But that was not what Clark could focus on right now. He had to maintain his focus on what was going on around him. He was making his way through the lava filled area toward the mouth of a very large and very active volcano.

'Three rare gocha tickets are being used. The wheel is spinning.'

The system chimed in again before Clark could try and hold it off. Even with more intelligence, the system was acting on its own. But that was fine, he would be fine as long as he managed his time properly. The free minutes to look at the rare gotcha is enough.

'Large death crystal…

Ten hours enhanced meditation…

Green bull horn- rare

A green bull sheds its horns once a year. The horn is an ideal material to be used for ornate carving inlay. It has a great conductivity for earth, water, and light energies. It is considered an expensive material but can also be used for other means.

However, because it is a material that only arrives once a year and often in poor condition, a good condition one will be very valuable to certain professions.'

Clark felt that the rare gotcha was a slight let down, but since he had the new flowing storms meditation, he realized that he was able to boost his meditation while moving. It was actually a great reward to be able to gain a better meditation while he traveled. Plus, it wouldn't be able to stop him from his current actions.

The large death crystal was tossed right in to the taming space where it would wait for Devi later. It would be a good reward since Devi and Crim were working so hard. Now all Clark had to do was think of a reward for Crim. But that depends on what else he found here in the dungeon. A dragon related material would be ideal.

"So what's a rat human doing over here?" Clark sucked in a sharp breath. He had no idea that someone had snuck up on him. But when he looked up carefully, he didn't find a single person around. The only thing was a shiny bronze owl.

'Bronze gear owl- uncommon

The bronze gear owl is a uniquely created beast. It starts with a metallic beast body and is carved from it. The way that a dwarf creates such a beast is a guarded secret but is considered part of their culture.

This unique beast is made of many gears and unique energy formations. The runes facilitate the ability to see, hear, and speak using the bronze dear owl. This is an ideal scouting beast for any dwarven army or group.

While it can still fly just as silently as an owl, it lacks a lot of fighting potential. It is fairly tough due to the metal it is made of, however, if a gear is knocked out of place it will lose its ability to function and the energies that allow it to be considered a beast will fade. It will need immediate repair of the dwarf will lose their beast entirely….'

While Clark had trouble understanding this analysis, he did not have much issue understanding that a dwarf was speaking about him because he was sneaking around. "Rude, I thought that dwarves had the need to show off their strength and brilliance. But that's how you talk to a potential customer?"

"Customer, so customers sneak through the trails to come and see us now? Human customers?" The grumbling vice was clearly being made worse by the connection of the tamer to the bronze gear owl. That told Clark that the attention on him was divided between him and something else.

"Well, I have a decent material to trade. I need someone to take a look at it though. I heard this dungeon was connected and didn't want to get snapped up by a beast before I had an idea of what I might be able to get crafted." Clark showed off the green bull horn. The bronze gear owl made a few odd sounds as it looked at it.

"Think that it's enough for you to take a look at some of my weapons and tell me if you can make me gauntlets that help me use them?" Clark was praising his own quick thinking bout he was still waiting on a response. The seconds ticked by while he stood there, Devi had returned secretly while Crim also made his way back but kept a bit of distance.

"Your approach is approved. The material you have is of use to us. Follow my eyes back." The bronze gear owl started to fly away and Clark started to push forward. He let Crim come back to him as well in armor form so that he could maintain a stronger appearance.

The change in the voice's tone was a little more pleasant. It was clear that the material had done the job. He silently praised the system for giving him something that was much more useful than he had realized. That was until he noticed that the group of dwarves ahead at a small camp near a pool of lava was larger than expected.

It was easy to see the fifteen shorter figures doing various things. They appeared somewhat young. All of them had the same outfits promoting the same forge. For Dwarves, this was normal. They moved in groups based on the forge master that they followed and learned from.

"You're the wandering client?" The voice that came to him was once that was deeper and even more rough than the one prior. Mostly because it came from an older dwarf that wielded a clearly stronger power than the others.

"I take it that you are in charge? And yes, I am the client so to speak. I was looking for someone to take their eyes to my black lighting spear and my black throwing needles. I need to know if they need better maintenance right now. Then I was hoping to buy a pair of gauntlets that can help me wield my spear with more force. This is the green bull horn I have as trade or partial payment."

"Good, if you wasted time I would have sent you to the lava pool for a swim." The tone was still the same but every single younger dwarf hard at work flinched a little. It seemed the threat was nothing fake.

"You came at a good time. The group process here is on hold due to lack of materials. Forging with a group is always troublesome when they lack a steady work ethic!" The shout was directed at the younger dwarves. Clark had clearly managed to find an older apprentice blacksmith with the youngest of the group. But this was definitely not a master blacksmith.

It meant that it was a larger group than he realized.

"I see, I am sorry for bothering you during lessons. I might have let my excitement to have a real dwarven craftsman look over my weapons take the lead." Clark knew it was better to stay on a dwarf's good side. He didn't want to fight anyone.

"Stop with the compliments. You aren't some brat that can't handle himself. I can feel the dragon energy rolling off you. Tell me what else you're after." Now that the dwarf spoke, Clark felt the oppressive earth and fire energies that came from him. It was clear that this dwarf was easily on par with Clark and was holding himself back until Clark explained everything that might also be involved.

Basically, Clark might have just delivered himself right to the enemy's hands.

"Like I said, I was just here to have you look over some things. But mind if I ask, why are you in a place that will fall apart in another day and a half or so?" Clark saw the dwarf's eyes squint a little. The time of the dungeon disappearing was clearly news to him.